Wire-stretcher



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet` l.

G. W.. WRIGHT. WIRE STEETGHER.

No. 464,546. lextented Deo. 48, '18914.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

G. W. WRIGHT.

WIRE STRETGHER.

No. 464,546. Patented Dec. 8,1891.

fue nunms PETERS cn.. Puo-ro-Lrmf, wAsmNaToN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE \V. lVRIGHT, OF AVALON, TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,546, dated December 8, 1891. Application filed July 29, 1891. Serial No. 401,076. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Avalon, in the county of Ellis and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful lVire- Stretcher, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to fences, and more especially to the stretchers used in connection therewith and adapted to stretch the wire of such fences; and the object of the same is to produce a stretcher whereby the ends of abroken wire may be connected andthe wire at the same time tightly stretched.

To this end the invention consists in a stretcher of the construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is an elevation of a section of a fence, showing the ends of a broken wire attached to myimproved device and about to be connected. Fig. 2 shows the next position, the stretcher having been turned over and the sections of the wire engaged in the hooks. Fig. 3 shows the means of connecting the ends after the wire is stretched, the latter having been disengaged from the hooks and the stretcher again turned over. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail of the stretcher alone, showing my preferred form thereof. Fig. 5 is a section across the stretcher shownin Fig. 4and through one of the clamps.

Referring to the said drawings, the letters P designate posts connected by wires, the uppermost one of which is shown in the present instance as broken and its sections are lettered W and W.

The letter S designates my improved stretcher, which is of the construction best seen in Fig. 4. The same comprises a body B, having alternately-disposed ratchet-teeth Ron its edges, and having at its opposite ends in one face hooks I-I H', and in the same face adjacent the hook Il a catch in the form of a clamp or eye I.

O is the operating lever or handle whose body is bifurcated, as shown, and passes astride the body B, and pivotally mounted in this bifurcation are pawls P P', whose free or rear ends are connected by links LL', also passing astride the body. In the operatinghandle O between the pivots of the pawls is a catch in the formof a clamp or eye I.

In the operation of connecting the ends of a broken fence-wire the steps shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 are necessary. The stretcher S is inverted, as shown in Fig. l, and the end of the section WV connected to the'catch I, while the section WV is connected to the catch I. The body is then slid through the handle, so as to bring the two catches as nearly together as possible, after which the whole stretcher is inverted to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the two sections of the wire engaged in the hooks. The handle is then manipulated so that the pawls shall engage the ratchet-teeth and move the handle over the body, thereby drawing the catch I away from the catch I',

and as the sectionsW W cross each other at the point X the entire wire will be very tightly stretched. After the stretching is finished and the desired tension imparted to the wire the sections are disengaged from the hooks and the ent-ire stretcher again turned over in the sanne direction-that is, with the arrow-whereby loops will be formed at the adjacent ends of the sections, and these loops will interlock with each other at the point X. The sections may then be disconnected from the catches and their ends twisted around their bodies to fasten them together; but I preferably continue to revolve the stretcher in the direction indicated, whereby the sections will be connected by a twist of great strength.

In Fig.` 4 is shown my preferred construction of this device, which, however, Will be slightly more `expensivethan that elsewhere illustrated. In this construction all the parts are the same as above described, with the exception of the catches, there shown as eyes I I', and thesev I replace by clamps, as shown. The clamp t' on the operating-lever O consists of a leverlor bar l, pivoted at 2 upon the outer face of a block 3, which is secured, as by bolts or rivets 4, to the outer face of the lever O, and this block has a shoulder 5, against which the inner end of the lever l or a shoulder at such inner end is adapted to be borne when the lever is turned in the proper direction. The clamp t" at the end of the IOO bodyB adjacent the hook Il consists of a screw lO, passing loosely through the body, having a hooked front end ll, Witha serrated or toothed inner face 12, and having a lip 13 at the extremity of its hooked front end, which lip moves against one edge of the body, and the entire screw is drawn into operative position by a hand-nut 14, turning on its threaded end against the back of the body. XVith this construction the operation of the device is precisely the same as that described, except that the ends of the sections XV W need :not be passed through and twisted into the eyes l I', but can be engaged by the clamps te" in a manner which will be clear. Although, as stated, this form of the device is more expensive to make, it will be clear that by its use sections ot Wire can be connected when said sections are much tighter and do not lap at their ends as much as is necessary With the other form of stretcher. lVith this exception, there is no difference between the two devices, and hencel desire to be understood as meaning by the term catch throughout this specification and claims a staple, an eye, or a clamp of any construction, preferably that shown.

That is claimed as new. is-- l. The l1ereindescribed wire-stretcher, the same comprising a body having hooks in one face adjacent its ends, a catch adjacent one hook, ratchet-teeth in the edges of the body, which are beveled toward said catch,a bifur cated operating-handle astride the body, a

catch on said handle facing that on the body, paWls pivoted in the handle at each edge ot the body, and links connecting the rear ends of the pawls, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a wire stretcher, the combination, with a body having ratchet-teeth in its edges inclining toward one end and a catch for the Wire at this end of the body, of an operatinglever, pa Wls connected thereto and alternately engaging said teeth, ablock on said lever having a shoulder, and another lever pivoted to said block and adapted to bear at one end against its shoulder, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature 5o in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. WRIGHT. lvtnesses:

J. E. WRIGHT, J. F. HARRIS. 

